Chapter 32 Chapter 32 We Gotham people are having a really messy time.

Elio wondered for a moment if he had misheard the word. "Found what?"

The Artifact of Eden—a term familiar to him, just like any other Assassin. But Elio's knowledge of it was limited to what he'd read on paper, or rather, to the experiences of past Master Assassins. While every Master Assassin had seen, found, even possessed, and studied it to varying degrees, the Artifact of Eden wasn't just a magical trinket you'd find anywhere.

That was an artifact created by the Isu—an ancient race that existed on Earth long before humans were born (of course, to be more precise, the humans created by the Isu themselves were once their slaves)—all the amazing legends and miracles in history, Moses parting the sea, the Trojan War, Jesus turning water into wine...all of them were triggered by and created by the Artifacts of Eden.

Their power is immeasurable. Even more immeasurable is the power their holders will wield through their influence.

"You heard correctly," Galahad said. "Mitchell possesses an Artifact of Eden. It infinitely amplifies his power and fuels his ambition..."

The Templar held the long cigarette between his fingers, seemingly lost in some hazy memory. His face was vaguely visible in the smoke, but Galahad soon regained consciousness, turned around, and opened the car window.

"Your vigilante friends in Blüdhaven have him on their tail," he said, shaking out the ash from his cigarette. "He's already overwhelmed. But he still thinks he has the situation under control, which is why he sent us out to conquer Gotham..."

Elio said nothing, but Galahad caught the assassin's eye and chuckled softly.

"Don't look at me like that," he said. "I don't have any extravagant thoughts about Gotham, and I don't have the time to worry about her."

"You better be," Elio said.

"I'll swear to it," said Galahad casually, "but it's better not to waste this hard-earned moment. Where was I?"

"Mitchell still thinks he has the situation under control," Elio said, "and you want him to continue to think that, don't you?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know what it's like to be maddened by a man holding an Artifact of Eden," Galahad said. "Let him think he still has a chance. Give me some time to find where he keeps the Artifact, and then you Assassins will do your job. How do you do it?"

Elio didn't answer immediately. The assassin, who had been sitting with his body leaning forward, leaned back. The spark of light followed his movement, seemingly slumping back in the comfortable backseat, flickering in the assassin's eyes as he studied the Templar.

"You want the Piece of Eden?" Elio said.

The Templar looked at him, without answering immediately. Then, slowly, he began to laugh.

"You might be mistaken," he said. "I wouldn't be foolish enough to set foot in Mitchell's secret location where the Artifact of Eden is kept. That's your job, isn't it?"

There was something difficult to interpret in his smile, at least not to Elio yet. But he knew a simple truth: to make a deal, both parties had to benefit.

"You mean, we buy you time to find the location?" Elio frowned. "And then you'll tell us where it is and won't stop us from getting you out of Gotham? I don't see how you'd gain anything from that."

"Oh, you must have misunderstood my position." Galahad raised an eyebrow. "Don't you like the motorcycle I gave you, sweetheart?"

Elio was stunned. This meant… wait, this meant Galahad was another student of Alvin's? A Templar, a student of an Assassin? While he'd read about Assassins and Templars adopting each other, it didn't seem like the adoptive father's ending was particularly happy.

"I send it not to gain anything from you," said Galahad, "but neither to gain your suspicion."

Elio, confused, replied subconsciously, "Sorry..."

"That's unnecessary." Galahad glanced at his watch. "I've been out long enough, Assassin. So?"

Elio pondered for a moment, half-believing, and finally reached out his hand. "Deal."

Galahad smiled, took his hand, and shook it gently. Something cold and hard brushed against Elio's finger, and the assassin saw that the Templar wore an indigo gemstone ring on his index finger, sparks of light flickering across its surface.

"Deal," said the Templar.

Galahad, in a good mood after making the deal, gave some information, such as which people Abstergo, stationed in Gotham, would regard as thorns in their side, and after several attempts at bribery failed, they would "very likely" launch a hunt in anger.

"To protect Gotham's few remaining pillars," he said, "your vigilante friends may be forced to take their forces to the streets and slow down their investigation of Abstergo. That's a perfect excuse, isn't it?"

Elio accepted the list with a grim expression. "I never realized there were so many people in Gotham worth protecting. Are you absolutely sure Abstergo is planning to murder them?"

Galahad smiled at him in response.

The assassin suspected this was a Templar conspiracy, but he had no choice but to get into the sack. After all, he couldn't just stand by and watch good people get killed. Elio forwarded the extra list to the group in frustration, but the Bat Vigilantes didn't seem surprised at all and even comforted him.

"Gotham has a population of over six million," Red Robin said humorously, "I'm glad we only have to look after a few dozen of them."

"Obviously, there are still a few people in this city worth saving," Robin commented.

"We've protected the city, we've protected the world," Nightwing said, "Don't worry, Assassin!"

"I'm glad they all said 'no' to Abstergo," Batman said, "if that's what their presence on this list means."

Elio couldn't help but smile. "I believe so," he replied.

Whatever the Templars were secretly planning (besides the Piece of Eden plot, of course), he certainly couldn't have anticipated the fact that there were far more vigilantes active in Gotham than he'd imagined. This wouldn't have posed any problems for them.

The vigilantes held a simple voice conference and each took on a responsibility, just like a university group dividing up the work, but they were much more active than the university group members. From time to time, they would compete for the protection of a certain person, although Elio didn't know what they were fighting for.

Robin demanded strongly, "I'm going to protect..." After a slight breath, he quickly and loudly said the name, as if to cover up something, "Bruce Wayne! Don't compete with me for it!"

Red Hood immediately dismissed it, "No, Bruce belongs to me."

Elio couldn't help but glance at his profile picture. Red Hood, without his robotic voice, sounded inexplicably excited... even determined to win.

"It's a pity I'm not in Gotham," Nightwing said, seemingly fanning the flames, "otherwise none of you would be able to snatch it from me."

Why does he sound so smug? Elio wondered.

"Because I have always been his favorite." Nightwing said proudly.

Who? Nightwing is Bruce Wayne's favorite? The assassin thought expressionlessly, you Gotham people... No, we Gotham people are really messing around.

Nightwing, having made such a bold statement, was immediately targeted by everyone, and the voice channel suddenly became chaotic. In the Batcave, the vigilantes had already started quarreling and arguing, only Batman sat alone at the table, silently holding his forehead; he didn't say a word, but he couldn't help but smile.

"I suggest that the winner protect Bruce," said the orphan.

"That's not fair!" the troublemaker yelled, "You've always been the best at taijutsu among us!"

"I'm willing to follow your instructions on this matter, Batman," Red Robin said, shifting his focus. "You have the final say. Who will protect Bruce?"

The sounds of fighting and arguing instantly stopped. Countless gazes shot out from the twisted and tangled eyes of the vigilantes, aiming at the silent Batman.

Although it was common for his children to fight over trivial matters and finally ask him to make a judgment, Batman would still feel a considerable pressure at this moment - more oppressive than the media's cameras and cannons, more difficult to deal with than the villains' conspiracies, but also happier than any of the above scenarios.

"…you have so much to do," Batman suggested weakly, "I think Bruce can protect himself."

Obviously, this was a plan that didn't satisfy anyone except Bruce himself.

His children once again erupted in a fierce fight, the clanging and clattering of the fighting incessantly filling the air. Robin's cries of "Father! Let me go!" were accompanied by the rustling of Red Robin's baton, and soon the fight escalated into a real fight. Batman suspected they were using this as a pretext for personal vendetta, and he had ample evidence. Only the troublemaker and the orphan were still playing around, which reassured Batman—

"Can't decide, Batman?" Red Hood said sarcastically, "Can't choose your favorite?"

The desperate Batman went offline briefly.

Alfred, for some reason, was very happy to see this scene. He walked calmly through the weapons and fights among the young masters and ladies, and brought Bruce, the old butler's favorite child, warm and fragrant black tea and cookies.

"Alfred, save me." Bruce said quickly, but did not forget to stuff a cookie sprinkled with sugar into his mouth.

"Maintaining fairness among so many brothers and sisters is always difficult, Master Bruce," Alfred said with a smile, "but there is a rare kind of fairness called 'no one gets it'."

Bruce, chewing on a cookie, gave him a thumbs-up. Then, the assassin, who was about to quietly log off from the voice channel (and this Robin War), saw Batman's avatar light up again in the call.

"I repeat, Bruce Wayne needs no protection," Batman emphasized. "But if you insist—"

Everyone fell silent again. With everyone watching and waiting, Elio stayed behind to see how this farce would play out. The vigilantes, filled with murderous intent, believed they could be the chosen one, yet they couldn't help but spray their brothers and sisters with murderous intent.

Who will protect Bruce Wayne? Who is his favorite?

"Assassin. Please." Batman announced.

There was an eerie silence. A variety of exclamations echoed, and the assassin almost immediately felt eyes fixed on him from among the avatars filling the screen.

"Wait," Elio said in disbelief. "Protecting Bruce Wayne? Me?"